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4. Tie Dye Cookies

Tie Dye Sugar Cookies

Fun, colorful tie dye cookies made with simple sugar cookie dough! These bright and swirled cookies are perfect for summer themes, art-inspired cooking lessons, birthday parties, or retro baking days with kids.

Ingredients

• 1 batch sugar cookie dough
• Food coloring or gel coloring (3-4 colors)

Equipment

• Cookie sheets
• Mixing bowls
• Knife for slicing

Instructions

1. Prepare sugar cookie dough according to your recipe.
2. Divide dough into 3-4 equal sections.
3. Add a drop of food coloring to each section and gently knead. For a marbled effect, knead only slightly.
4. Roll each colored dough section into logs.
5. Stack the logs together and gently twist to combine colors.
6. Slice dough into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
7. Place cookies on a baking sheet.
8. Bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes until bottoms turn light golden brown.
9. Allow to cool before serving.

Helpful Tips

• Use gel food coloring for brighter colors without making dough sticky.
• If dough becomes soft, chill for 20-30 minutes before slicing.
• Twist gently - overmixing will blend colors instead of creating swirls.
• Try flattening logs slightly for oval or egg-shaped cookies.

Kid-Friendly Cooking Ideas

• Create a Color Mixing Lesson by blending primary colors.
• Make rainbow tie dye cookies for Rainbow Fish Cook and Reading Activity or summer camps.
• Turn into a 1960s Retro Theme Cooking Activity.
• Shape into Easter eggs, hearts, or stars for seasonal fun.
• Let kids experiment with different swirl patterns and compare results.

Theme Cooking Activity Extension

Pair this recipe with an art lesson about color theory. Talk about primary and secondary colors while kids knead their dough. You can also create a "Design Your Own Cookie" station where kids name their swirl patterns!